A podcast for radically honest conversations about art, design and creative entrepreneurship from intersectional perspectives.

CO-HOSTED BY AMANDA MOLLINDO & MINA VARGAS

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About the Podcast

Have you ever wondered what other artists and designers talk about behind studio doors? Do you ever think about the types of risks, obstacles, and failures creative entrepreneurs encounter before achieving their goal? Have you ever noticed how systems of oppression impact creative industries and wondered if there's any way to fix them?

Amanda Mollindo and Mina Vargas have been considering those questions, too! And they're sitting down with artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs who are demographically underrepresented in their field to hear about their experiences. Tune in to hear heartfelt stories and no-nonsense advice from creators who are forging their own path to make a difference!

About the Hosts

Life-Long Pals on Different Creative Journeys

Partners in crime since 1999, neither one of these two best friends would've guessed that they'd both eventually pursue creative careers.

While Amanda Mollindo was a straight-A student who spent her childhood making crafts, Mina Vargas was climbing trees and dominating the kickball field like nobody's business. And when Amanda left to pursue an art degree at Arizona State University right after high school, Mina followed a year later. But instead of going to school, she spent her early 20's hustling to climb the Walgreens retail ladder, eventually earning a pharmacy technician license and getting the eff outta there. But after six years doing mind-numbing work, Mina finally realized that she, too, was capable of making this world a more beautiful, meaningful place. So she signed up for her first semester at ASU as an Interior Design student at the ripe old age of 24.

Amanda and Mina know that balancing creativity, work and education isn't easy. And finding a place in the world of art, design, and business can be even harder (especially when you're not a white dude). That's why they've set out to interview artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs with diverse experiences and backgrounds; they want to discover what it takes to pursue a creative life and effect change, even if you show up to the table as someone who falls outside of the norm.

Each episode of Creative Confessionals covers:

Where creativity fits into identity politics and social justice issues

Business smarts and professional practices in the arts

How the creative fields can be more equitable and inclusive

Plus they include tons of laughter, inspiration, and — of course — conversation about art and design. Join them as they shed light on some of the biggest obstacles and sacrifices that artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs face to pursue their passion!

What's your story?

We're always looking for new guests (locally, nationally, and internationally) who are willing to speak openly about the struggles that come with pursuing a creative life. If you're an established artist or designer whose down to chat about the baggage that comes with creativity and has some strong opinions on how we can make this world a better place, we'd love to chat! Fill out the form with some background information on the topic you'd like to discuss, and we'll review your application to see if you're a good fit.

Nominate a Guest

Do you have a creative friend, mentor, or role model that would be a great fit? Let them know how awesome they are by nominating them to be a guest on the podcast. Fill out the form with their contact information so we can get in touch!

Our Commitment to Diversity:

We prioritize creators who come from marginalized groups or are demographically underrepresented in their field. More specifically, Creative Confessionals is a platform that aims to elevate artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs who are presently or historically "at risk of being subjected to discrimination due to the interplay of different personal characteristics or grounds, such as sex, gender, age, ethnicity, religion or belief, health status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education or income, or living in various geographic localities" (Source: European Institute for Gender Equality). If you resonate with any part of that definition, we encourage you to self-identify in your guest proposal.